Looking to buy an ornamental bender ( Need recommendations)

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I'm looking to purchase a smaller ornamental bender for scrolls, bending, and shaping of smaller material. I have looked at a few different choices ane believe something like the Grizzly G7153 or KAKA SBG-40 would be what I am looking for. Does anyone have any experience with these smaller bench top benders or have a recommendation as to what I should look at instead. looking to add some decorative pieces to my work to make it stand out. Let me know what you use and why. Thanks in advance.- Ricky Bobby
Reply:The Harbor Freight bender with scroll attachment is a good value for what you want. They have been out of stock and hard to find but they told me they should be back in stock this month August. Not sure about their scroll attachment availability.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:Thanks Burt. I actually looked at that one before as well and it looks like that scroll attachment is super difficult to get a hold of. I do like the price on the bender though.
Reply:Here's a book to add to your library.  Available for pennies online and well worth it!

I've not found small benders to be very helpful, honestly.  The Kaka seems very cheap and I don't know that it'll handle up to 1/4" thickness even if that's within the specs.  One of the things I've always disliked about the scrolling tools is that the leave the end of the scroll flat were it has to pinch to grab it.
Reply:

Originally Posted by VaughnT

Here's a book to add to your library.  Available for pennies online and well worth it!

I've not found small benders to be very helpful, honestly.  The Kaka seems very cheap and I don't know that it'll handle up to 1/4" thickness even if that's within the specs.  One of the things I've always disliked about the scrolling tools is that the leave the end of the scroll flat were it has to pinch to grab it.
Reply:

Originally Posted by Lis2323

I bought that book...
Reply:I just picked up a Shop Outfitter bench top scroller. It claims inch 3/16 flat bar, and it was around $260 shipped. It seemed to me the best capability for the price out there, made is USA. The more you pay the more capable in terms of thickness.It is supposed to arrive friday. I’ll try to report back if I remember.
Reply:I have had the shop outfitter bender for over 10 years. I also have a HF version which is a knock off from shop outfitters. If it's a beat the hell out of the tool, I use the HF one, if I want good quality and repeatable bends, I use the shop outfitters one. They change interchange dies as they are the same measurements. The shop outfitters pins are much stronger and better made.Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
Reply:The smartest solution IMO is to buy the harbor freight, and change the pins out for 5/8" grade 8 bolts or hitch pins (my setup).If you use pins that are long enough with a stop (stop collar) to stick out of the top, it makes certain bends much faster as you don't have to weave them through the pins/bender, you just pull them up and out (videos will show hossfeld type benders with pins on top for use )
Reply:The smartest solution IMO is to buy the harbor freight, and change the pins out for 5/8" grade 8 bolts or hitch pins (my setup).If you use pins that are long enough with a stop (stop collar) to stick out of the top, it makes certain bends much faster as you don't have to weave them through the pins/bender, you just pull them up and out (videos will show hossfeld type benders with pins on top for use )
Reply:I did that with my hf bender.  It worked well within capacity of the arrangement.  It motivated me to buy an American Bender.  Bent 1/2x1.5" bar into a 2 inch 3/4 ring working on too.  Too bend uses less material if the bending dog is used.  Also, great way to make spirals to form rings
Reply:

Originally Posted by SlowBlues

The smartest solution IMO is to buy the harbor freight, and change the pins out for 5/8" grade 8 bolts or hitch pins (my setup).If you use pins that are long enough with a stop (stop collar) to stick out of the top, it makes certain bends much faster as you don't have to weave them through the pins/bender, you just pull them up and out (videos will show hossfeld type benders with pins on top for use )
Reply:Shop Outfitter bench top scroller. Used it the other day to make a dog dish holder. Picture 2" of marble on top


Reply:

Originally Posted by VaughnT

  One of the things I've always disliked about the scrolling tools is that the leave the end of the scroll flat were it has to pinch to grab it.
Reply:

Originally Posted by shortfuse

Vaughn, why couldn't one merely taper the starting end of the scroll to make it more aesthetic or does the bar need to have a squared end for the scroller to grab it?  I ask because I have never used one of the commercial scrolling tools.
Reply:

Originally Posted by shortfuse

Vaughn, why couldn't one merely taper the starting end of the scroll to make it more aesthetic or does the bar need to have a squared end for the scroller to grab it?  I ask because I have never used one of the commercial scrolling tools.
Reply:VaughnWhat type of scroll bender is that? Nice
Reply:

Originally Posted by VaughnT

It's not a question of tapering the ends, but how the machines hold the end so they can begin bending.  It's basically like clamping the end in a vise and then scrolling the rest -- no matter what the rest looks like, you'll always have that flat spot which was clamped in the vise.
Reply:I bought this shop built one for $5..

and sold it last fall for $195...

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk:
Reply:Homemade jigs for simple repetition ....

Diacro for manual  “production” work..

and the “original”  smaller Hossfeld #1 or Junior....

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk:
Reply:

Originally Posted by VaughnT

All commercially-available benders operate on the same principle -- making it really easy to see which scrolls are machine-made and which are forged by a blacksmith.  


Reply:

Originally Posted by Reebz

What type of scroll bender is that?
Reply:Do propane forges require mixed gas like an oxy fuel rig? Ex oxy cylinder required?
Reply:Not usually.... google home made forges and you'll find everything from brake rotor forges that use coal to some very fancy propane versions that use forced air from fans to up the oxygen content. Some day I'd still like to build one that uses 02, but the rest of these guys will tell you not to hold your breath waiting... it's on a very long list of projects. If you're new to the site, read through the 2 forging threads above in the "Stickies" section... lots of info there.250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes
Reply:

Originally Posted by Arc_Shepherd

Do propane forges require mixed gas like an oxy fuel rig? Ex oxy cylinder required?I still want to do it...right after I build the one that runs on waste oil.Last edited by whtbaron; 03-19-2021 at 01:07 AM.250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes
Reply:Rarambula23

Originally Posted by Rarambula23

I'm looking to purchase a smaller ornamental bender for . . . to add some decorative pieces - to my work to make it stand out  . . . Let me know what you use and why . . .
Reply:Is there a quality scroll bender on the market below $500 that bends thick heavy stuff?
Reply:

Originally Posted by OPUS FERRO

Rarambula23Scrolls are crap - invest in design - and not perfunctory tools.hthOpus.
Reply:I don't quite understand why more folk do not make their own.  Those benders for sale lock folk into a single scroll.  The capacity of those machines really doesn't require much leverage certainly not a handle for turning.  The only thing the offer is consistency.  I have the HF.  It sucked.  Offered a consistent flat spot at the tail of each scroll.  Modded it to do 3/16, after I noticed 1/8 was invisible from a distance. Also,  it got worn and would not hold 1/8.  Then the handle stripped and would not rotate the pattern. The experience, encouraged me to make my own collection, when jobs with varied scroll patterns arose.... First, benders with handles,  then mostly manually wrap around style. The flat end is an eyesore. And spirals are not scrolls.  Spirals being passed off as scrolls hurt my eyes too.  I guess i am a scroll snob.A ring roller is a better investment...you can made rings,scrolls snd scroll patterns with it.Last edited by tapwelder; 03-19-2021 at 07:24 PM.
Reply:Arc_Shepherd

Originally Posted by Arc_Shepherd

Care to explain why they are crap and what you mean by investing in design?
Reply:Don't much care for Paley's work, to be honest.Samuel Yellin is a legend, of course, and more than earned his stripes.Scrolls, contrary some, are very much an integral part of the design and every blacksmith throughout history has used them.  What makes a spiral versus a scroll, that's really depends on what look you're going for, so don't let anyone tell you that one way is wrong.For example, here's something from France, mid-1800's, that uses spirals with decorative finials.  The pattern repeats so only two actual spirals are needed to make up a panel as large as you could want.

I think a lot of people go wrong by thinking they need infinite variety because they never know what size project they might want to build.  The truth is that a small handful of sizes can be made up in advance, and by combining them in interesting ways you'll be able to make pert near anything you could imagine.  And if you do find that a project requires something slightly different..... it's short work to simply make up something different then and there.When doing scroll work, how the scroll looks will depend a lot on the size stock you use, which in turn depends on the nature of the project.  If you're doing a sign bracket that's 12' overhead, you have to build big because the viewer's perspective is going to make any small ironwork disappear.  Similarly, if you're building a lamp pedestal, you want to use smaller dimensional iron that's easy to move but still has the right look for its size.There's about a million ways to go, but I always recommend starting small since that's the easiest way to learn. Is there a commercial bender available for less than $500?  Not that I've seen.  Or, at least not one that I'd trust to last more than a few minutes.
Reply:VaughnT

Originally Posted by VaughnT

Don't much care for Paley's work, to be honest . . .
Reply:

Originally Posted by OPUS FERRO

How can you argue with this . . . Opus.
Reply:VaughnT

Originally Posted by VaughnT

I can argue with it all day long . . . only reason he has any kind of name is because he got in with the right crowd. . . . Just because people are dumb enough to buy his work . . . he was able to talk people into buying his work. And now that they have bought his work, they have no choice but to holdhim up high because they don't want to lose out on what they paid for whatever he made for them.
Reply:

Originally Posted by OPUS FERRO

VaughnTThe 'dumb enough' people - were/are - https://www.si.edu/ . . .The Renwick Gallery Gates were the largest Wrought commission in the U.S.for over fifty years [completed '74] . . . I had only hammering for two years . . .His/this work - is considered the Renaissance of broad interest in true wroughtforging . . . Your current voice may not have an audience - if not for Paley's work . . If your bladder still has force - excoriate this guy . . .https://www.google.com/search?q=sant...w=1167&bih=894hthOpus.
Reply:

Originally Posted by OPUS FERRO

Opus
Reply:VaughnT

Originally Posted by VaughnT

Enough with the hijacking of this thread . . . start a new thread and I'll be happy to comment therein.
Reply:

Originally Posted by OPUS FERRO

First Order of Bis - this is not your Thread . . .
Reply:VaughnT

Originally Posted by VaughnT

It's not your thread either, so what gives you the right to hijack it? . . . Again, you show your ignorance.
Reply:

Originally Posted by shortfuse

Vaughn, why couldn't one merely taper the starting end of the scroll to make it more aesthetic or does the bar need to have a squared end for the scroller to grab it?  I ask because I have never used one of the commercial scrolling tools.